'Towards a Proper Understanding of Fatigue Crack Growth and Crack Closure

Conventional theories to describe and predict FCG are based on a SIF parameter, ΔK. If ΔK is used as similitude parameter to predict FCG, an R-effect arises. This R-effect can be accounted for by means of plasticity induced crack closure: A plastic wake behind the crack tip causes the crack to close before a zero tensile load is applied. As such...

The influence of a residual stress distribution on the fatigue crack growth rate of bead-on-plate welded steel specimens

Fulfilling our energy demands with renewable resources is one of the world’s greatest current challenges. Building offshore wind farms and using wind energy is one option to achieve this goal. The cost efficiency of offshore wind farms is still limited however, due to high construction and maintenance costs. Several research and development...